Who we are
Ignite Law Group is committed to demolishing the school to prison pipeline, to preventing systemic school pushout of our most vulnerable children, and to protecting the right of every child to access exceptional education that is individualized according to the student’s needs and is uninterrupted by excessive school discipline.
Created by a team of former public defenders who witnessed the damage caused by excessive school discipline and lack of educational supports, Ignite Law Group provides individual advocacy for children in underserved communities while also fighting for systemic change in education, community policing, and the juvenile legal system.
Laura McWilliams
Laura McWilliams (she/her/hers) practiced as a public defender in Allegheny County for over a decade, focusing on enhancing procedural justice within a system that can feel confusing, unfair, and rigged to those forced to enter it. Laura continued those efforts as an education attorney with Ruder Law, LLC. Laura brings her passion for zealous advocacy and advancing procedural justice to Ignite Law Group.
Christine Porter
Christine Porter (she/her) previously worked as a Staff Attorney in the Pittsburgh office of the Education Law Center. Prior to joining the Education Law Center, she was the Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Juvenile Division, where she designed the division’s first education advocacy program. Christine has represented families as an education attorney with a private firm in Seattle and practiced disability and elder law with Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh. She has served on the boards of nonprofits advocating for juvenile justice reform and for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Allison Ware
Allison Ware (she/her/hers) is an Associate Director of Clinical Programs at Duquesne University Law School. Allison teaches the landlord tenant clinic, where she seeks to “ignite in [her students] the desire and passion [of] serving others in their communities.” Allison previously worked as an assistant public defender in the juvenile division of Allegheny County’s Office of the Public Defender (“OPD”). Allison developed the OPD’s summary representation project, which provided legal representation for children charged with citations before magistrates. She also worked with parents and students as part of the educational representation team in the Juvenile Division.
Contact us
In need of help? Send us a message and we’ll reply within 2 business days. If your need is urgent, please contact us by phone at 412-353-9047. Please note that our response to your question does not establish an attorney-client relationship.